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Bush Takes Advantage of Disaster to Erode Rights
In the wake of the Gulf region's multi-billion-dollar catastrophe, President George W. Bush says he's got to be frugal with government funds. His solution: Waive the rule that normally requires federal contractors to pay the prevailing wage for the area where the work is being done, and suspend affirmative action requirements.
That means that while contractors will pocket millions in profit for the years of relief and reconstruction work ahead, workers themselves will be paid as little as minimum wage laws and the depressed job market allow.
"This is a time to unite Americans," CWA President Larry Cohen said, joining AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in condemning the waiver of the Davis-Bacon Act. "But once again, the president isn't interested in doing that. He's taking advantage of a tragedy to push his anti-worker agenda."
The Labor Department is seizing its opportunity, too, waiving an affirmative action rule for federal contractors hired to do service and supply work during the clean up and reconstruction. The rule, designed to ensure fairness in hiring, was lifted so as not to burden contractors with paperwork, a DOL spokesman said.
The New York Times jumped on the prevailing wage issue with an editorial titled "A Shameful Proclamation." "By any standard of human decency, condemning many already poor and now bereft people to subpar wages - thus perpetuating their poverty - is unacceptable. It is also bad for the economy... The ostensible rationale for suspending the law is to reduce taxpayers' costs. Does Mr. Bush really believe it is the will of the American people to deny the prevailing wage to construction workers in New Orleans, Biloxi and other hard-hit areas?"
The editorial notes that Republicans have been trying to repeal the wage law, known as the Davis-Bacon Act, for years. "Now, in a time of searing need, the party wants to achieve by fiat what it couldn't achieve through the normal democratic process."
That means that while contractors will pocket millions in profit for the years of relief and reconstruction work ahead, workers themselves will be paid as little as minimum wage laws and the depressed job market allow.
"This is a time to unite Americans," CWA President Larry Cohen said, joining AFL-CIO President John Sweeney in condemning the waiver of the Davis-Bacon Act. "But once again, the president isn't interested in doing that. He's taking advantage of a tragedy to push his anti-worker agenda."
The Labor Department is seizing its opportunity, too, waiving an affirmative action rule for federal contractors hired to do service and supply work during the clean up and reconstruction. The rule, designed to ensure fairness in hiring, was lifted so as not to burden contractors with paperwork, a DOL spokesman said.
The New York Times jumped on the prevailing wage issue with an editorial titled "A Shameful Proclamation." "By any standard of human decency, condemning many already poor and now bereft people to subpar wages - thus perpetuating their poverty - is unacceptable. It is also bad for the economy... The ostensible rationale for suspending the law is to reduce taxpayers' costs. Does Mr. Bush really believe it is the will of the American people to deny the prevailing wage to construction workers in New Orleans, Biloxi and other hard-hit areas?"
The editorial notes that Republicans have been trying to repeal the wage law, known as the Davis-Bacon Act, for years. "Now, in a time of searing need, the party wants to achieve by fiat what it couldn't achieve through the normal democratic process."